Winter Skincare Favorites

When we moved back to Boise from Southern California after living there for nearly 8 years, I completely forgot how dry my skin got in the cold, dry winters here. I spent my first winter back battling not just dry, but literally flaking skin. I realized I was going to have to overhaul my skincare regimen, and give my skin a little extra TLC this time of year. Today I want to share my favorite products that I use to keep my skin looking and feeling its best during the winter months:

Exfolikate – To fight dullness and keep skin glowing, a good exfoliating wash is a must. This is a cult favorite for good reason. It will get rid of any dead skin, and just makes your skin brighter. It does help with minimizing pores, fine lines, and wrinkles as well which is an added bonus. I use it two times a week, and although it’s an expensive product, a tiny bit goes a long way. The smallest tube comes in at $24 and will actually last several months.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid – This molecule is naturally occurring in our skin, and it attracts moisture. What this product does is pull water into your skin to not only hydrate, but to visibly plump as well (which reduces the appearance of fine lines). This product works best if you apply to damp skin (or in a room with steam!), so that there is provided moisture to pull in (you don’t want it to do the opposite and pull moisture out of your skin). I apply this product immediately after toning and mix it with a drop or two of water, before following with all of my other products.

Double up on oil – In the driest months of winter, I wear oil on my face during the day and at night. It sounds crazy to wear oil under makeup but this product completely changed my mind. Squaline is known as the “non-oil oil” and sinks into my skin so well without any oily residue. It is supposed to repair you skin’s moisture barrier, and is also a great oil to try if you are acne prone. For night I apply oil just before moisturizer & alternate between Marula Oil and Rose Hip Seed Oil. Marula is known to be antioxidant rich and very hydrating, while Rose Hip Seed is helpful for reducing inflammation, redness, and helps with anti aging. These oils from The Ordinary are an absolute bargain and I’m obsessed with this entire line of affordable skincare products.

Moisturizer – While I certainly wish it wasn’t so pricey, I’m absolutely addicted to La Mer’s Creme de la Mer. I just love everything about it from the scent, to the anti aging and anti inflammatory benefits, to the glow and hydration it gives my skin. The price pains me, but I will say a tiny bit (I use about the size of a pea) goes a very long way when you emulsify it and pat it into your skin as recommended. A one ounce jar does last about 6 months and it is my go-to nightly moisturizer. However, when I occasionally want something heavier (when my skin is super dry or post peel), I really do like this Mario Badescu Protein Night Cream as well. It does leave a greasy feeling on the skin, but it sure gets rid of dry, flaking skin fast and it comes at an amazing price point. For daytime moisturizing, I absolutely love SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer. It is very creamy and moisturizing, yet absorbs quickly and wears well under makeup. The entire line of SkinMedia is seriously amazing and you can’t go wrong with any of their products!

Sheet Mask – Thanks to K-beauty, these masks have become incredible popular and there are a ton out there at a variety of price points. My absolute favorite is Dr Jarts+ Vital Hydra Solution – it is so luxurious and moisturizing. But I have to admit – these Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet masks are pretty dang good – especially for the price! They are infused with Hyaluronic Acid and really do a great job of moisturizing.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask – While I love the whole pampering experience of putting on a sheet mask at night…the reality is I’m a mom. And it can be really difficult to find 15-20 minutes to sit still with a mask on my face. My friend told me about this product, and I was immediately sold and knew I needed to try it. I apply this right before bed on top of all my products, and while it’s not quite as luxurious as putting on a mask, it feels pretty dang amazing (very cooling and soothing). My skin is so glowy in the morning after using it, and it comes at a fantastic price point. The jar is generously sized and a small amount is all thats needed so I expect a jar will last me 6 – 9 months (maybe even a full year).

Keihl’s Cream de Corps – This really is the holy grail of body lotions. I always buy it when the big bottle goes on sale during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale and it is my go-to daily moisturizer. I love that it isn’t scented, and although it is rich and creamy, it sinks into the skin quickly making it something that can be used day or night. It’s so gentle I can even use it on my kids, and I feel like it’s best applied right after the shower to pull in the extra moisture.

Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm – One of the things I struggle with the most in the winter is dry, chapped lips. I am constantly looking for lip balms that hydrate and having a nice color tint is a nice bonus. Not only does this one do that, it also has a plumping effect. And it smells absolutely amazing. It’s a bit pricey for a lip balm, but every girl needs a little luxury product to treat herself now and then!

Well, there it is…my list of winter skincare favorites! Do you have any favorites you would like to share? I would love to hear about them in the comments 🙂